The divine institution of marriage is in serious trouble today. In this passage in Genesis we see God’s ideal for marriage, and how the first marriage foreshadows our ultimate marriage to Jesus Christ, our true Bridegroom.
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Christ – Our Bridegroom
Genesis 2:18-25
Where did marriage begin? Who invented marriage? For answers to those questions, open your Bibles to the book of Genesis, the book of beginnings to see the beginning of marriage. As we will discover this morning, marriage began in the Garden of Eden, and it was God Himself who invented it.
The divine institution of marriage is in big trouble today. In 1900 there was 1 divorce for every 14 marriages. In 1975, there was 1 divorce for every 2 marriages. That’s a 700% increase in 75 years! By 1982, the number of marriages in America had hit their all time high, and began to slowly decrease from then on even though the population was still increasing. The reason is simple. We were seeing less marriages, because more and more people were living together without getting married. People today do not see the glory of marriage.
Not only are half of the people who are marrying divorcing, and more and more people not even getting married, but now it seems our country is on a trajectory to legalize same-sex marriages. At last count, 73% of 18-29 year olds in the U.S. believe we should legalize same sex marriages. Does the Bible address these issues? Absolutely! In fact, it addresses these issues in the text we are going to study this morning. So, let’s get to work.
In Genesis 1 we read God’s account of the creation of the heavens and the earth in 6 days. In Genesis 2, God puts a zoom lens on his camera, and zooms in one the sixth day to show us more detail concerning the creation of man and woman. We are used to thinking of the Bible as a story told chronologically, so obviously chapter 2 comes after chapter 1. However, chapter 2 does not come after chapter 1. Chapter 2 takes place at the same time as chapter 1:26-31 is taking place. Genesis 1:27 says, “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” But if that is all the Bible told us about the creation of man, we would be left with lots of unanswered questions. For example, “How did God create man?” “Did God create man and woman at the same time?” “How did God create woman?” “Why did God create woman?” This morning we are going to see the answer to those questions.
In Genesis 2:18-25, we are going to examine the first marriage in the Bible. We are going to see Adam Alone, Adam Asleep, and Adam Elated.
1. Adam Alone: 2:18-20
It is not good for the man to be alone” (2:18). This is the first time in the book of Genesis that God has pronounced that something is not good. 1:10,12,18,21,25. Now, that is amazing. God has created a perfect man in perfect fellowship with God, in a perfect environment. What could possibly be “not good” about that? Just this – man being alone. Now, this doesn’t mean that it was morally evil for man to be alone. Adam was simply not complete. Something more was needed.
“I will make him” (2:18). God’s answer to this “not good” situation is to make Adam a helper suitable for him. The woman’s role was to be the man’s helper. Now, God had already made Adam back in Genesis 2:7, “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” God took the dirt, and formed from it the lifeless body of Adam. Then He breathed into his nostrils, and Adam became a living being. His body pulsed with life. His heart started beating, and He started breathing, and his brain started registering. So, why didn’t God create both man and woman at the same time from the dust of the earth? I believe it was to teach us the different roles that He has given men and women. We’ve already learned from 1:26-27, that God made both man and woman in His image, and gave both of them the mandate to rule over all the earth. In that sense, they are equal in the sight of God. However, being equal does not mean sameness of roles. Think the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equally God, sharing the same divine attributes. But does that mean that each person of the Trinity has the same role to play? Absolutely not! According to Scripture, the Father chooses, the Son executes, and the Spirit applies. The Father doesn’t die on the cross, and the Spirit doesn’t rise from the dead. Within the Trinity there is equality, but difference when it comes to roles. And that is exactly how God made man and woman in His image. God made Adam first, gave him the commandment not to eat of the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil, then later created the woman. Thus, Adam had the responsibility to lead his wife into obediently following God’s Word. God didn’t tell Eve the command. She must have been taught it from Adam.
“a helper”(2:18). The word “helper” is not a demeaning word. This word in the Old Testament most often refers to God Himself, as He is Israel’s help. So, we shouldn’t view this word as referring to a groveling, lowly, doormat for man. However, it does point out that the woman was created to help the man fulfill the mandate that God gave him. God told them in Genesis 1:28 that their job was to multiply and rule. Adam needed Eve’s help in doing that, especially in multiplying! So the woman was to fill a supportive role, not a leadership role. All of this points to the fact that God invested Adam with headship in the relationship. We see that from several things:
- Adam is created first, and then the woman (1Tim.2:12-13)
- Eve is created as Adam’s helper, for his sake (1Cor.11:8-9)
- Adam exercises authority by naming Eve (3:20). The one in authority has the right to name the one under his authority. A parent names his or her child. A Master names a slave. A conqueror might give a new name to captives, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Jesus gave Simon a new name. God renamed Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel.
God invested Adam with authority in the relationship, but authority that must be exercised as a humble servant with his wife’s good in mind. The man and the woman are created equal before God, but with complementary roles.
“suitable” (2:18). What a beautiful word this is! It means “corresponding to”, like two puzzle pieces that fit together. Actually, it is a good thing in a marriage for the husband and wife to be different from each other. They need to have differing gifts, temperaments, personalities, and strengths, so that they can complement each other. They would be much weaker unit if they were exactly alike. But, by having different strengths, they balance and strengthen the marriage unit. It’s interesting to me that so many people are attracted to someone different than themselves. I’ve seen this over and over and over. It’s true in my own marriage. That’s actually a good thing, although it’s not always an easy thing.
“whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name” (2:19). Again, we see Adam exercising dominion, which was what God had told him to do back in Genesis 1:26-28. God could have named the animals Himself, and then told Adam their names, but He wanted Adam to exercise rule over His creation.
“but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him” (2:20) Another reason God had Adam name the animals is to produce a sense of need in Adam for a mate of his own. As each pair of animals was paraded before Adam, he would doubtless have noticed that they all had a mate, male and female. There was Mr. and Mrs. Hippo, Mr. and Mrs. Giraffe, and Mr. and Mrs. Chimpanzee. But there was only Mr. Adam. Adam would look at all the animals, and realize that they were all different from him, and that there was no creature God had made that was his counterpart. So, God creates a need in Adam, while fully intending to meet that need momentarily.
2. Adam Asleep: 2:21-22
“deep sleep” (2:21). Here we find the first surgery ever performed. God was the surgeon, and Adam was the patient. Actually God was the surgeon and the anesthesiologist.
“rib” (2:21). Actually this is the only place in the Bible where this Hebrew word is translated as “rib.” Usually, it is translated as “side.” So, what God actually did is take a portion of Adam’s side, some bone and some flesh (2:23).
“The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib” (2:22). This is telling us that God took the bone and flesh and used it as His raw material to fashion or “build” it into a woman. I guess you could say that Eve was very well built! Anything that God builds is going to be well built. I imagine that Eve would have been an extremely beautiful woman. Remember, that sin has not entered the world, and so there were no ravaging effects of sin in Adam or Eve’s bodies at this point. Furthermore, she was specially created by the Master Sculptor of the universe.
“brought her to the man” (2:22). Adam didn’t wake up from this divine surgery, and look over and find the woman lying down at his side. No, a better picture would be of Adam waking up, wondering what the funny feeling in his side is, counting his ribs when he hears God say, “Adam, you forgot to name one creature.” When Adam looks up he sees Eve, not in a wedding dress, but completely naked! You think I’m making this up don’t you? Look at what it says in 2:25, “and the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
3. Adam Elated: 2:23-25
“This is now” (2:23). These are the first recorded words from Adam’s lips in the Bible, and we’ve lost a bit in the translation. Some of the newer paraphrases translate it, “Finally!” or “At last!” We might have said something like “All Right!” or “Hot diggety!” The German commentators Keil & Delitzsch say the phrase expresses joyous astonishment. After seeing one animal after another, with none of them being like him, he finally shouts “Yes!” “Lord, You did it! She’s the one!”
“She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man” (2:23). Adam gives her the title of “woman” because she was taken out of man. He sees a beautiful counterpart in her. The Hebrew word for man is “ish” and the Hebrew word for woman is “ishshah.” Adam must have been thinking, “She’s just like me!”
“For this reason a man shall leave is father” (2:24). Here we have the priority of marriage established. The relationship of a man and a woman in marriage is primary. It is greater than any other earthly relationship. When Debbie and I got married in 1981 we wrote out our vows. This is how my vows to her started, “Debbie, as I take you to be my wife, I will, by the grace of God, love and serve you more than any other person or thing in this life, except for my love and service to Jesus.” When a man and a woman get married, they need to cut the apron strings. They need to make their own way together, no longer looking to Mom or Dad. When there is a problem or a squabble, the wife must not run back to her Mom. When there is a financial crisis, the husband shouldn’t be going back to Dad asking for him to bail them out. They are a couple under God now.
And be joined to his wife” (2:24). Here we have the permanence of marriage established. The word “joined” means to cling to as bone to skin. It means to be glued to something. Hey folks, that means, when you get married, you’re stuck! When Jesus quoted this verse, He said, “What God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mt.19:6). When two people are married, God Himself has joined them together. God has designed marriage to be permanent. The fact that there is such a high divorce rate, even among Christians is tragic! Before two people get married, their pastor should sit them down and ask them some hard questions. He should ask the man, “What are you going to do if two years down the road your wife is in an auto accident, and she becomes a quadrapalegic, so that you have to feed her, and bathe her for the rest of your life?” We live in a culture where our feeling is that we will stay married, as long as the other person makes me happy. That’s not a Biblical marriage. A Biblical marriage is one in which both persons make a commitment of “for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death due us part.”
“and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed” (2:24-25). The “one flesh” phrase has to do with sexual union. Paul says in 1 Cor.6:16 that a person who has sex with a prostitute has become “one flesh” with her. This phrase establishes the pleasure of marriage. The Priority, Permanence, and Pleasure of Marriage. There is sexual pleasure which is granted to those who have entered into a covenant together. God is the one who invented sex. It is not dirty, or evil in any sense, when it is entered into between a husband and wife. It is the privilege of married people alone. However, this intimacy is not just physical, but also emotional and relational unity as well.
So, what does this passage teach us?
- Marriage is God’s idea. It was created and designed by God. Those people who just move in together without the benefit of marriage, are not living according to God’s design. Further, they are living in sin, pure and simple. All sexual expression that is not between a husband and his wife, is sin in God’s eyes.
- Marriage was designed to be between one man and one woman for life. Verse 24 says that a man shall be joined to his wife. It doesn’t say a man shall be joined to a man, or a woman shall be joined to a woman. The Bible knows nothing of a “same-sex marriage.” It doesn’t matter if 73% of 18-29 year olds approve of same sex marriage. God doesn’t! God spells out very clearly what He designed for marriage in this text, and it is between a man and a woman.
- Marriage is to be permanent. God hates divorce, and we should too. We should never get married unless we are ready to make a lifelong commitment to that one person, and say “No” to every other person in the world.
Beholding Christ in the First Marriage
There is one other thing I need to mention about marriage that is more important than anything else I have said. Marriage was designed to picture the relationship between Christ and His church. That means, that Adam was intended to be a picture of Christ, and Eve was intended to be a picture of the Church. Why do I think this? Because of Ephesians 5:31-32, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.” Paul, here, quotes Genesis 2:24, and then says that that points to Jesus’ relationship with His bride, the church. If that is true, then the account of the first marriage back in Genesis 2 was intended by God to show us something about Jesus. Let’s look at a few of those precious truths.
1) Just as it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone, it was not good for Jesus to be alone. If it were, God would never have planned to give His Son a bride. But, just as God created a bride and brought her to the man, so God is creating a bride and will ultimately bring her to Jesus in heaven. In fact, God planned this wedding from all eternity. He chose the bride. Ephesians 1:4 says “He chose us in Him from before the foundation of the world.” Why was it not good for Jesus to be alone? Because He would not be able to display His love, grace, mercy, and faithfulness, like He would if He had a bride. What’s more, Romans 8:29 says that every true believer is being conformed to His image. Thus, Christ’s glory will resound throughout eternity as His image is reflected in His bride.
2) Just as God put Adam to sleep, He also put Christ into the sleep of death. In order to produce a bride for His Son, God must kill His Son. Isaiah 53 says that “The Lord was pleased to crush Him.” God didn’t just anesthetize Jesus. God predetermined the death of His Son. And, just as God created Eve from Adam’s side, so God creates His Bride through the wounds of Jesus Christ. If there were no Calvary, there would be no church – period!
3) Just as God brought Eve to Adam, so He will bring the church to Christ. God is in the process of bringing every one of His chosen ones to Jesus Christ in heaven. In this world we face all kinds of sin and temptation, and attacks from the enemy, but the unseen God is holding our hands and leading every one of His children home to Christ. Right now we are engaged to Christ, but one day we will meet Him face to face, and our marriage with Him will be consummated. Then, we will gaze lovingly upon the face of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. Then we will be His for all eternity. The reason we will persevere in faith to the end, is because God is bringing us to Jesus!
4) Just as God created Eve with the same nature as Adam, so He recreates every believer with the same nature as Jesus. 2 Peter 1:4 tells us that we are partakers of the divine nature. Eve’s union with Adam stemmed from the fact that she was formed from the same substance as her husband. Our union with Christ stems from the fact that we are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit as Jesus is. When the Holy Spirit enters a person, He brings God’s nature with Him. Without this new nature, we would be completely unfit to dwell with Christ in heaven. In fact, we wouldn’t want to be in heaven. We would hate it. It would be completely contrary to our nature. But now, having been born again of the Spirit and granted the divine nature, we long to be with Christ in glory.
5) Just as Adam exercised authority, and Eve submitted to him, so Christ is the Head whom the Church willingly submits to. That’s the whole point of Ephesians 5:22-24, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.” My friend, if you are unwilling to submit your life to Jesus Christ, you can’t be saved! You can’t be His bride. Jesus is Lord. You don’t make Him Lord. He is Lord, whether we like it or not.
6) Just as Adam was to never divorce his wife, so Christ will never divorce His bride. Jesus is faithful! 2 Tim. 2:13 says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” It is true that the bride of Christ is unworthy, and unfaithful. But He remains faithful! Isn’t that good news?! If Jesus was only faithful to us as long as we were faithful Him, we’d all be in big trouble. No, He loves us with an everlasting love. His love extends to eternity future. Nothing shall be able to separate us from His love.
7) Just as Adam joyfully received Eve as his wife, so Christ will joyfully receive His bride. Can you imagine the heavenly joy with which Jesus will receive His bride in heaven? Weddings and feasts are occasions of great joy. Our heavenly wedding with Christ is called “The Marriage Supper of the Lamb” in Rev. 19. On this great wedding day, Jesus will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servants. Enter into the joy of your Master!” He’ll say, “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! Oh, that is going to be a day of great joy! Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. On that day Jesus will warmly and readily welcome all His blood bought host. He’s not going to have a frown on His face when you are brought to Him. He’s going to have a huge smile! You don’t have to worry about Him rejecting you. He has loved His bride from all eternity. He was born for her, lived for her, suffered for her, died for her, buried for her, rose from the dead for her, ascended for her, intercedes for her, and is coming again for her. She is the object of His sovereign, eternal, and effective love.
Are you part of Jesus’ bride? Oh, what an unspeakable privilege! Rejoice and live worthy of that high calling. Don’t cheat on Him. Don’t commit spiritual adultery by giving your affection and love to the things of this world. Be a faithful fiancé. Look forward to that day with all your heart!
If you’re not a part of Jesus’ bride, why don’t you become a member of His bride today? He welcomes you with open arms. He invites you to come. He simply asks, “Will you be my wife?” Will you give yourself to me unreservedly, and wholeheartedly? Will you submit to me and follow My Leadership? Will you say ‘I do’?” If you will say “I do”, you may be part of His bride, and spend all eternity getting to know Him, loving Him, and enjoying Him. Come to Him today! Open up your hear to Him! Commit your life to Him! You will never regret it. Let’s pray.
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